Littlestown looks for answers on burned house

Demolition at fatal fire site stalled by questions over ownership.

Severely damaged by a fatal fire more than a year ago, this house at 111 Charles St. in Littlestown has presented obstacles for borough officials who would like to see the structure torn down. (THE EVENING SUN -- FILE)

Littlestown officials are still searching for ways to address a Charles Street house severely damaged during a fatal fire that occurred more than a year ago.

The house has been unclaimed by relatives of the 68-year-old homeowner who perished in the blaze, officials said. The borough also has had no luck determining which bank holds the mortgage on the property.

Borough officials say the damaged two-story house is a safety and health hazard and they would like to see it demolished. Borough manager Charles Kellar said last month neighbors had reported seeing rodents around the site.

A fire in the early morning hours of March 1, 2012, claimed the life of Joe V. Johnson and left the two-story house at 111 Charles St. a charred shell. The back of the building is burned out and a pile of debris still sits in the backyard.

Borough solicitor Todd King told council members at their meeting Tuesday that he has been in touch with Johnson's daughter, and that she expressed no interest in taking possession of the property or creating an estate in her father's name. King said the daughter indicated that PNC Bank held the mortgage on the house and property. But, King said, PNC officials told him they have no record of the property and Johnson died apparently without a will.

The original financial institution holding the deed has gone bankrupt, King said, and there is no clear indication as to which bank assumed the assets.

"We have no idea what bank holds this mortgage.

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She said all the documents related to it burned in the fire," King said. "The one biggest problem is not knowing who the bank is."

The uncertain ownership limits the borough's ability to push for a cleanup of the property.

"We can't issue fines unless there is an estate open," he said. "If there is no estate open, no one will be responsible for paying."

King outlined for council members a lengthy possible scenario to take over the property and have it demolished. Littlestown could post it and give notice in newspapers stating the property is a nuisance and the borough will clean it up if the owners don't.

"We'd give notice for so long then we'd have to pay to knock it down and make everything OK with it," he said.

After that, the borough could file a lien on the property and move to have the lien foreclosed upon, followed by a sheriff's sale which also would require a public notice to alert possible owners. Those interested in purchasing the property could buy it at sheriff's sale.

"If somebody wanted to pay the cost that the borough had to pay to clean it up and pay the fees associated with it, plus a dollar, they would be able to buy it for that amount and the mortgage would be divested by the sheriff's sale," King said. "Unless they were there to show up and increase bid on it and increase it by that much so the mortgage would get paid off," King explained.

Councilwoman Charlene Westcott suggested the borough do a credit check on Johnson to find out if a bank would be listed as a creditor.

"Whoever the mortgage is should certainly show on its credit report," she said.

Council members also suggested a search of county tax records to determine if other agencies are pursuing action or funds. They asked King to continue to work on the issue.

King suggested council consider its options for the property.

"The only way there is going to be any type of action is if the borough does something or someone were to contact the daughter and say 'I will give you money,' " he said. "This lady seemed like she didn't want anything to do with it."